He pulled back, and it seemed the heat had gone out of the day, leaving me suddenly cold.
“Why?” I asked, my voice a bare whisper.
“I don’t want to rush.”
His control was impressive.
“That was…” I said into the resulting silence. And didn’t have the courage to say anything else. Of course I’d liked it. Who wouldn’t have liked it?
“It was what?” he asked.
“It was…fine.” And I swallowed down the truth. That it was like good wine. Like breath. Like springtime buds and sun-warmed skin. Like air and good sleep and a beautiful breeze. Like treasure.
He propped his head on his hand. “Fine?”
“Sure. Do you think it wasn’t fine?”
“I think I did some very good work. And I’d be happy to give it another try if you’re less than convinced.”
“I think we’ve done enough.”
“For now?” There was hope in his eyes, and it was too bright, like staring into the sun, so I looked away. But I was smiling when I did it.
“I won’t pressure you,” he said. “The choice is yours, as it always has been. But I…would like to give you pleasure.”
“Pleasure?”
“Pleasure,” he said. He leaned toward me again, and this kiss was a delicious whisper. His hand again found my breast, and he rubbed a thumb across my nipple, sending a spark through my body that had more of that wall between us crumbling down into rubble. And then, a hand at my ankle, fingers trailing slowly up my leg, his gaze on my face. And then his fingers were on my thigh, and he brushed against the center of my body. I sucked in a breath. “Nik.”
“That is my name,” he said, and then shifted his hand between my legs, began to move, with just enough pressure against the center of my body to have my back arching, my bodyreacting to his touch even if my mind still rebelled against the idea of being so intimate, so vulnerable, with someone who had been my enemy.
“Just feel it,” he whispered, and kissed me softly, and pleasure rose like a wave before breaking across my body. Another soft kiss. “I want more from you, Fox. Much more. But I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me.”
I felt the first raindrop on my forehead, and barely a heartbeat passed before that drop became a proper rain.
“But perhaps not here and now,” he said with a grin.
We stood up. I pulled on my cloak, glanced at him, and grinned.
“I’ll race you,” I said, and didn’t wait for his answer.
He cursed and ran after me.
“You must have cheated,” he said breathlessly, hands on his hips and a spark in his eyes when he reached the stone courtyard a heartbeat after me. We walked to the door.
“I didn’t need to cheat. I’m just faster than you. And I’m disappointed to discover you’re a sore loser.”
“Please. I’m just furious I was beaten by a cheater.”
A guard opened the door and we walked inside, where Orda waited with a stack of linens. Her expression was impressively mild.
“Your Highness,” she said, extending them toward us. He took one, gave it to me, took another. “Thank you, Orda.”
“You’re welcome, Your Highness,” she said, and gave me a wink as she strode efficiently down the hallway.
I dried my face, then squeezed water from my hair. “Howlong do you think she waited for us?” I asked quietly when her footsteps had faded.
The prince scrubbed his hair aggressively. “Longer than I’m comfortable thinking about.” He glanced down at me, moved a step closer. “I need more than a kiss in darkness.” He brushed a finger across my cheek, and my body shuddered at the contact.
